Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1935)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY 8 IATSE Wins 'Closed Shop' Studio Status (Continued from page 1) studios is being left to arbitration between the I. A. and the I. B. E. W. Each will appoint a neutral arbitrator and the two will decide which of the unions is entitled to jurisdiction over the sound men within the next 60 days. It is estimated that approximately 1,000 sound men are affected. The cameramen, laboratory workers and grips are estimated at another 4,(X)0, but these will not represent a clear numerical gain for the I. A. as many of them now hold I. A. cards, in addition, however, to I. B. E. W. cards. Vote May be Needed Present indications are that under the agreement the I. A. will be given the right to organize these groups and may have the exclusive jurisdiction if its efforts are successful. This may involve a vote cf the members affected to obtain a majority expression on which of the two unions they prefer to remain with. The I. A. comes back under the basic studio labor agreement from which it withdrew at the inception of the inter-union jurisdictional dispute at the time of the advent of sound, as its part in obtaining these privileges. The two-day conferences at the Hays office began on Saturday and ended late Sunday night. Attending from film companies were Leo Spitz, president of RKO ; Herbert B. Swope, chairman of K-A-0 ; Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Loew's and M-G-M ; Sidney R. Kent, president of Twentieth Century-Fox ; John E. Otterson, president of Paramount ; Austin Keough, Paramount secretary ; R. H. Cochrane, vice-president of Universal, and Harry M. Warner, president of Warners. United Artists and Columbia were not represented. Browne to Coast Union men attending included George Browne, president of the I. A. ; Harland Holmden and John P. Nick, I. A. vice-presidents ; Steve Newman, I. A. coast representative; Dan Tracy, president of the I. B. E. W. ; William L. Hutchinson, president of the carpenters' union ; Dan Tobin, president of the teamsters' union ; Joseph Weber, president of the musicians' union. The last four named are members of the executive council of the A. F. of L. Pat Casey, labor representative for the major studios, also played an important part in the conferences. Sol A. Rosenblatt, I. A. legal aide, is also reported to have participated. Newman left for Hollywood yesterday and Browne leaves for the toast today. They will work on supplementary details involved in the agreement and will arrange for the formal return of the I. A. to the studios' basic agreement. Browne, Casey and Otterson, in statements issued yesterday, described the settlement as "satisfactory to all parties concerned." The I. B. E. W. holds a nine-year contract with the studios and an agreement revising this to care for any changes which may result from the jurisdictional agreements reached this week end is expected to be undertaken on the coast at once. Details of the jurisdictional agreement are to be worked out entirely by the two unions involved. Casey said yesterday that the studios were indifferent as to which union exercised the jurisdiction, but sought an amicable labor situation. K. C. Conference Delayed Kansas City, Dec. 9. — Negotiations between Harland Holmden, third vicepresident of the I. A. T. S. E., who is in charge of local operators for the time being, and the Kansas City Theatre Owners' Emergency Council, have been postponed from Dec. 7 till after Dec. 10. The Emergency Council, composed of L. J. McCarthy for Fox Midwest, E. Rolsky and Jay Means (chairman) for the independents, Ed Dubinsky for Dubinsky Brothers, and C. A. Schultz for Commonwealth, is asking for a reduction of around 25 per cent in wage scales, according to labor officials, while Holmden wants a 10 per cent increase and a contract with subsequent run houses. For two or three years subsequent runs have hired on an individual oral basis. Negotiations between operators and downtown houses await the outcome of those with suburbans. The local asked a 10 per cent increase when the contract expired recently. In the meantime all theatres are working with operators on the same basis as the past season. Any deal reached probably will be retroactive. Following the national move of I. A. T. S. E., locally an I. A. T. S. E., man has replaced the I. B. E. W. man at Loew's Midland, according to labor officials here. Big Industry Meet Breaks Up in Row (Continued from page 1) industry were present, they had not made their affiliation known when entering the meeting, according to officials of Berry's office. About 50 per cent of those attending had failed to make known the industry or organization which they represented. Sol A. Rosenblatt, former chief of the film code, was present, but he said he was merely an observer and was more interested in the cloak and suit industry, for which he is impartial arbitrator, than in pictures. The opening session of the conference consisted solely of a speech by Berry. Its adjournment immediately upon conclusion of his talk precipitated a near riot as efforts were made to give John W. O'Leary, former president of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, an opportunity to speak. A session of the labor organizations this afternoon proceeded with but little less friction as representatives of the American Federation of Labor refused flatly to sit in any conferences with unions not connected with their organization. The organizations scheduled to gather for a consideration of the problems of the amusement industries included the Associated Actors & Artists of America, A. F. of I-., I.B.E.W., Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of America, International Union of Operating Engineers, American Federation of Musicians, and Stage Employes and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the U. S. and Canada. Warner Profit Of Million in 3 Months Seen (Continued from page 1) were : Harry M. Warner, Albert Warner, Jack L. Warner, Waddill Catchings, Henry A. Rudkin and Thomas. It is expected H. M. Warner will be reelected president at the annual meeting of directors Dec. 17 in New York. Ivan Culbertson, Wilmington attorney, presided. About 150 attended. Stanleigh P. Friedman, a director, read a statement explaining the action of the board in compromising an employment agreement with the Warners. During the discussion which followed Henry L. Canby, appearing in behalf of certain stockholders, objected to ratification. After the vote had been announced Milton Rosenberg, New York attorney, moved that the vote of the proxy committee be canceled. His motion was seconded by Milton Poulson, another New York attorney, but this was ruled out of order by Culbertson. In discussing the prospective profit, Thomas said : "I speak in the absence of Harry M. Warner, whose presence was necessary today at a conference of the representatives of the leading motion picture companies and the officials of the I.A.T.S.E. "The financial outlook, in the absence of any unexpected labor disturbances, is bright. Your company in the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, after all charges, earned a net profit of $674,158.96. "The comptroller informs me that the profits for the first quarter of the current fiscal year are estimated to be slightly in excess of $1,000,000, after all charges. This, you will note, represents a larger profit than earned in all of the last fiscal year. "There has been a continued increase in theatre attendance, and we have reason to believe this increase will continue. It is sincerely hoped that this vear will be the best since 1930." May Meet in K. C. Warners' southern and western branch managers will hold a midwinter sales meeting next week, probably in Kansas City, with Gradwell L. Sears, vice-president in charge of these divisions, presiding. Dates and hotel will be set later in the week. A. W. Smith, vice-president in charge of eastern and Canadian sales, completed a two-day meet last week. Film Examiners and Shippers Organize (Continued from page 1) securing an A. F. of L. charter and it will hold meetings every second Tuesday at the New Yorker. Efforts are under way to have all exchanges represented 100 per cent. A standard wage scale and working hours are now being drafted. Cooperation from Local 306 is being sought. It is planned to get the operators to accept a plan not to admit film in a booth unless each reel has a union label on it. A mass meeting to bring in new members is expected to be held today or next Tuesday. Tuesday, December 10, 193 MPTOA Head Demands Cuts In Ascap Tax (Continued from page 1) assume the licensing right to thei music after Jan. 1. A Warner spokesman declined t comment on Kuykendall's remarks i this connection other than to say tha, the company's policies in licensing ex, hibitors for the public performanc of Warner music are "now bein worked out but might not be com1 pleted for some time yet." It has been unofficially indicated a: Ascap that the music society is nc contemplating a reduction of its licens ing rates to exhibitors, a representa tive of the organization having state i recently that Ascap believes its cata logue, "with or without the Warne music," to be worth all that the sc ciety is getting for it now. Writers "Well Paid" Declaring that the writers and put lishers of music used in films ar "well paid" for this use by the pre ducers who, in turn, collect it from th exhibitors in film rentals, Kuykenda also asks that film companies in add: tion to Warners which have musii publishing subsidiaries also shoul refuse to levy a music tax on ex hibitors. "Warners have a fine opportunity t repudiate and show up the unfair, ol noxious and monopolistic methods ( Ascap with the motion picture th< atres," Kuykendall declares in h; bulletin. "Let Warners frankly ar nounce they will levy no added tax o the exhibitor who buys their picture putting it squarely up to other motio picture companies with music put fishing subsidiaries now members ( Ascap or non-members to match thei fairness to the exhibitor." Asks Sustained Offensive The M.P.T.O.A. head conclude that "to curb and restrain the musi? tax extortion a sustained offensiv must be carried on by exhibitors, whj pay out millions for this music tax.! He urges exhibitors to give the Go\i ernment "every possible cooperatio and encouragement" in its pendin anti-trust litigation against Ascap, an; to "actively support" the new Duff! Copyright law "through your ow representative in Congress." "No producer can record music n his picture without paying adequa*: compensation to the composer for tlj songs and music actually used, whic! he recovers from you in the fill rentals you pay," Kuykendall advise the exhibitors. "An additional musi tax on motion picture theatres is a.inexcusable extortion which the Gov ernment and the courts should nc: tolerate any longer." Claim Perfect Printing Hollywood, Dec. 9. — Perfect soun reproduction and completely automati printing is claimed by Bell & Howe for new printing machines contracte for by M-G-M, Paramount an Columbia. Under the new arrange ment, it is claimed, both the pictur and sound track are printed simul taneously and the printers run a higher speeds.